Steam-engine.



(No Model.)

Witnesses;

Patentedluly 4, :399.

F. W. GORDON.

STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed Feb. 23, 1899.)

4 Sheets-$heet I.

1;; o WW W Q 3 N I Inventor N l? a a wWwSw Attorney m: norms PETERS ccv,Pmrm-Lrmo.v WASMINGTON. u. c,

No. 628,089. Patented July- 4, I899. F. W. GORDON.

SIEAM ENGINE.

(Applichtidn filed Feb. 23, 1899. um Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet z,

17 K as 18 3 as O Witnesses: Inventor 93M Melina; W W

I Attorney TNE Norms warms cov PHOTO-LITHQ, wAsumm'on. n. c.

(No Model.)

Pa ten ted My 4, I899.

F. w. GORDON.

STEAM ENGINE.

'Application filed Feb. 23, 1899.)

j'ggiin m Witnesses qigmmr I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor W 3w Attorney S.Slick/w.

No. 628,089. Patented July 4, I899.

F. W. GORDON.

STEAM ENGINE. Application filed mm. as, 1899.) N M m 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Witnesses: Inventor Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

FREDERICK WV. GORDON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters: Patent No. 628,089, dated. July4:, I899.

' Application filed February 23, 1899. Serial No. 706,471. (No model.)

To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W.- Gon- DON, of Philadelphia,Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Steam-Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

Applications for patent on this invention were filed in GreatBritain,'France, Belgium, and Germany on October 14, 189$,but at thetime of executing the present specification I am not advised of thegrant of any patentsupon said applications.

This invention pertains to improvements in steam-engines, and it will bereadily un-v derstood from the following description,taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which- 1 Figure 1 is a side elevationof a steam-engine exemplifying myinvention; Fig. 2, aside elevation ofthe cylinder, parts being in vertical longitudinal section, the portionat the left being through the steam-valves pertaining to the left-handend of the cylinder in the plane of line b of Fig. 4, while the portionto the right is through the exhaust-valves pertaining to the right-handend of the cylinder in the plane of line a of Fig. 4; Fig. 3, a sideelevation of the cylinder; Fig. 4, an end elevation of the cylinder;Fig. 5, a side elevation of one of the release-gears; Fig. 6, a verticalsection through a portion of the lefthand cylinder-head and through oneof the steam-valves, the section being in the plane of line b of Fig. 4;and Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section of valve-cylinder 23 withits valve-piston in place, the follower of the valve-piston beingomitted, the section being in the plane of line 0 of Figs.2 and 6.

In Fig. 2 the valve-pistons are, owing to the smallness of the scale,shown as being unprovided with packing-rings, Figs. 6 and 7 beingdesigned particularly to illustrate the packing system.

The valves are piston-valves working in valve-cylinders in-the maincylinder-heads, each cylinder-head having a pairof coupled steam-valvesand a pair of coupled exhaustvalves. As the equipment of each maincylinder-head is the same, the description may be in the singular.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the engine-cylinder; 2, its piston; 3, theCYIIHdQI'fllBEtdS,

which will hereinafter be generally referred to in the singular; 4, asteam-chamber formed in the cylindenhead and provided With a suitableinlet; 5, an exhaust-chamber formed in cylinder 6, its outer orright-hand edge cooperating with the right-hand extremity of counterbore8, counterbore 8 being longitudinally ribbed to provide bearing for thevalve-piston; 10, a second exhaust-valve cylinder parallel withvalve-cylinder 6; 11, ports near the inner end of valve-cylinder 10 andplacing it in communication with exhaust-chamber 5; 12, a valve-pistonworking within valve-cylinder 10, its inner or left-hand end serving tocover and uncover ports 11; 13, a rockshaft journaled on thecylinder-head, its axis being'at right angles to the common axial planeof valve-cylinders 6 and 10; 14, a rockerarm fast onthis rocker-shaft;15,valve-stems connecting valve-pistons 9 and 12 with arm 14; 16, an armfast on the rear end of rockshaft13, the term rear being relative toFigs. 1, 2, and ,3 as being front elevations; 17, a rock-shaft journaledacross the top of the engine-cylinder; 18, a wrist-plate fast on thefront end of this shaft; 19, a rod linked to wrist-plate 18 and servingto transmit operative motion to the wrist-plate and its rockshaft; 20, awrist-plate on the rear, end of rock-shaft 17, and 21 links connectingwristplate 20 with arms 16.

Valve-pistons 9 and 12 are shown in about line-and-line position justbeginning to open.

The movement of wrist-plate 20 Will obviously cause valve-piston 9 tomove to the left and valve-piston 12 to move to the right, such movementof the valve-pistons causing valvepiston 12 to uncover ports'll andpermit exhaust to take place from the engine-cylinder throughvalve-cylinder l0 and ports 11, while valve-piston 9 will be projectedfarther into the engine-cylinder and permit exhaust to take place fromthe engine-cylinder through counterbore 8 and ports 7. At proper timewrist-plate will move the valve-pistons to position of closure and thento position of full lap, with the ends of the valve-pistons about flushwith the inner face of the cylinder-head. The two valve-pistons are ofequal area and connected to rocker 14 at equal distances from the axisof the rocker, the two valves being balanced in all respects, theiractuation calling only for the power necessary to overcome theirmechanical friction.

Proceeding with the drawings, 22 indicates a steam-valve cylinderdisposed in the cylinder-head across steam-chamber 4, this valvecylinderbeing ported and counterbored similar to exhaust-valve cylinder 6; 23, asteamvalve cylinder similar to exhaust-valve cylinder 10 and forming acompanion to valvecylinder 22; 24, a valve-piston working invalve-cylinder 22; 25, a valve-piston working in Valve-cylinder 23; 26,a rocker-arm connected with the stems of valve-pistons 24 and 25; 27,the shaft of rocker-arm 26, valve-cylinders 22 and 23, valve-pistons 24and 25, arm 26, and shaft 27 pertaining to the steam-valve system andbeing alike to corresponding parts of the exhaust-valve systempreviously described, except that rock-shaft 27 in the case of thesteam-valves projects from its rocker 26 to the front of theengine-cylinder; 28, an arm fast on the front end of rocker-shaft 27 andhaving a tooth to be engaged by a pawl; 29, a dash-pot of usualconstruction; 30, a dash-pot rod connected with arm 28 and serving topull arm 28 downward or in direction corresponding with closing motionof the steam-valves; 31, an arm with its axis coinciding with that ofrock-shaft 27, but loose with reference to that rock-shaft and its arms26 and 28; 32, links connecting arms 31 with wrist-plate 18; 33, a pawlcarried by arm 31 and adapted to engage the tooth of arm 28 and move arm28 in direction corresponding with opening motion of the steam-valves;34, a cam-arm with its axis coincident with that of rock-shaft 27; 35, atrip-arm fast with pawl .33 and engaging the cam of cam-arm 34; 36,

links connecting cam-arms 34 with the engine-governor, and 37 a springcarried by arm 31 and serving to press pawl to operative relationship tothe tooth of arm 28.

The steam-valve pistons 24 and 25 have operative motion, as previouslydescribed in connection with the exhaust-valve pistons; but in the caseof the steam-valves they are opened by release-gear and closed by thedashpots. Referring to Fig. 2, arm 31 will move to the right, its pawlcausing the steam-valves to open in an obvious manner. \Vhen triparmrides up on the projection of cam 34, the pawl will be released and thedash-pot will suddenly close the steam-valves. The release-gear issimilar to that at present employed on engines of the Corliss type, andthe adjustment of cams 34, and consequently the point of cut-01f, issimilarly under the control of the engine-governor. Referring to Fig. 2,as the engine-piston 2 moves to the right the valve-piston 24 in thecourse of its opening motion follows it and projects into theengine-cylinder, while in closing and going to position of full lap itwithdraws from the engine-cylinder. Regarding all of the valves it is tobe observed that they are truly balanced, that they bring about aminimum of clearance, and that the system results in the minimum ofmetal surface exposed to the steam in excess of the metal surfacerepresented by the bore and end walls of the main cylinder.

Proceeding with the drawings, 39 indicates the engine-shaft; 40, theeccentric; 41, the crank; 42, the governor; 43, a rocker, to which theforward end of rod 19 is connected, and 44 the eccentricrod connectedwith rocker 43.

The governor in its construction and in its mode of connection with andoperation upon cam-rods 36 may be the same as in ordinary engines of theCorliss type.

Referring to Fig. 2, it is to be observed that the valvular function ofvalve-pistons 12 and 25 is performed by what might be called the frontends of the pistons, While in the case of valve-pistons 9 and 24 thevalvular function is performed by the rear ends of the pistons. The endsof the valve-pistons which have valvular performance should be providedwith suitable packing-rings, and a satisfactory form of packing will bedescribed. Valve-pistons 9 and 24 have, it will be observed,supplementary pistons Working in the valve-cylinders; but they arewithout valvular office, their purpose being merely to increase thebearing of the valve-pistons, a result accomplished in valve-pistons 1.2and 25 by making the pistons long. In the case of the uppervalve-pistons they are, in effect,

long, but of spool-shape. The valve-pistons are solid in the sense thatsteam does not pass through them.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a preferred system of packing for thevalve-pistons, illustrated in connection with valve-piston 25. In thesefigures of the drawings, 45 indicates the bridges or ribs of the portsin the wall of the valve-cylinder, the inner surfaces of these bridgesbeing flush with the bore of the valvecylinder; 46, an L-shapedpacking-ring fitting in a rabbetat the end of the valve-piston; 47, arectangular ring fitted in the angle of ring 46, the outer end surfaceof ring 47 forming the functional end of the valve-piston; 48, afollower on the valve-piston,formingthe outer wall for thecircumferential groove containing the packing-rings, the follower beingof less diameter than the valve-cylinder, so as to leave the outer faceof ring 47 free to form the valvular element of the valve-piston; 49, acut in ring 47, causing that ring to be an open ring capable ofexpansion; 50, a cut in ring 46, causing that ring also to be an openexpansionring, cut 49 traversing one of bridges 45' while jointly beingtoward the lesser-pressure.

cut 50 traverses another one of the bridges, and 51 a dowel in thevalve-piston and pack ing rings and serving to maintain the relationshipof cuts 49 and 50 to each other and to the bridges which they traverse.This form of packing-rings is not new, but its arrangement and mode ofoperation possess certain points of novelty. In Fig. 6, assume thevalve-piston to be moved to the right to position of closure. In suchcase the left-hand face of the packing-ring will be toward the greaterpressure-that represented by steamchamber 4-which pressure will alwaysbe as great as and generally in excess of that in the steam-cylinder.That face of the packing which is formed entirely by ring 46 is to bedisposed toward the greater pressure and that face of the packing formedby the two rings If there be any leakage whatever, it will be from thegreater toward the lesser pressure, and consequently steam under thegreater pressure will find its way inwardly through out 50 into theinterior of ring 46 and cause the expansion of both rings. Suchpacking-rings may be applied to all of the valve-pistons, so thata faceof the packing will form the functional edge of each valve-piston, thatface of the packing formed wholly by the L-shaped ring being placedtoward the greater pressure-that is to say, away from the enginecylinderin the case of the steam-valves and toward the steam-cylinder in thecase of the exhaust-valves.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a steam-engine, the combination,substantially as set forth, of an engine-cylinder, heads therefor eachhaving a steam-chamber and an exhaust-chamber, a pair of exhaustvalvecylinders and a pair of steam-valve cylinders in each of said heads andhaving their inner ends open to the engine-cylinder, a closedvalve-piston in each of said valvecylinders, a rocker pivoted at each ofsaid cylinder-heads and connecting the exhaustvalve pistons in thathead, positive mechanism connecting the engine-shaft with said rockersand serving to give said exhaust-valve pistons their opening and closingmotions, a rocker pivoted at each of said cylinder-heads and connectingthe two steam-valve pistons of that head,positive mechanism connectingthe engine-shaft with said last-mentioned rockers and serving to givesaid steam-valve pistons their opening motions, release devicesinterposed in said last-mentioned mechanism, and dash-pots connectedwith said steamvalve pistons and serving to give them their closingmotions.

2. In a steam-engine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of asteam-cylinder, heads thereforcontaining each a steam-cham- I ber andexhaust-chamber, a pair of exhaustvalve cylinders and a pair ofsteam-valve cylinders in each of said cylinder-heads and open to theengine-cylinder, closed valve-pistons in each of the valve-cylinders, arock-shaft disposed across the engine-cylinder, a wristplate on eachendof the rock-shaft, mechanism for transmitting motion from theengineshaft to said wrist-plates, a rocker pivoted at the cylinder-headand connecting the two steam-valve pistons of that head, a rockerpivoted at each cylinder-head and connecting the two exhaust-valvepistons of that head, connections between one of said wrist-plates andthe rockers of the exhaust-valve pistons, and connections between theother of said wrist-plates and the steam-valve pistons.

3. In a steam-engine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of'anengine-cylinder, heads therefor provided each with a steamch'amber, apair of steam-valve cylinders in each of said heads and open to theenginecylinder, a valve-piston in each ofsaid valvecylinders, a rockerpivoted at each cylinderhead and connecting the valve-pistons of thathead, a toothed arm connectedwith each of said rockers, an actuating-armloose at each of said rockers, mechanism connecting the engine-shaftwith said actuating-arm's and serving to oscillate them, a pawl carriedby each of said actuating-arms and adapted to engage the appropriatetoothed arms, camarms mounted at said actuating-arms and adapted tocause the release of the pawls, a governor, and mechanism connectingsaid governor with said cam-arms.

4. In a steam-engine, the combination, sub

I stantially as set forth, of an engine-cylinder,

an eccentric on the cran k-shaft of the engine, a pair of portedsteam-valve cylinders and a pair of ported exhaust-valve cylinders ineach head of the engine-cylinder and having their inn er ends openthereto, a closed valve-piston in each of said valve-cylinders, a rockerfor each pair of valve-pistons and connecting the two valve-pistons ofthe pair, and connections between said rockers and said eccentric.

5. In asteam-engine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of anengine-cylinder, an eccentric on the crank-shaft of the engine, a pairof ported valve-cylinders in each head of the engine-cylinder and havingtheir inner ends open to the engine-cylinder, a closed valve-piston ineach of said valve-cylinders, a rocker mounted at each cylinder-head andconnecting the two valve-pistons thereof, and connections between saideccentric and said rockers.

- FREDERICK W. GORDON.

Witnesses:

W. 0. HARRIS,

VICTOR O. STROBEL.

